24/06/2009 - Belfast Zoo cafe ruined in blaze
The cafe at Belfast Zoo has been left gutted by an overnight fire, according to emergency services.
Police and firefighters were unable to save the cafe after being notified of the incident, and the scene has now been sealed off.
A police spokeswoman said that an examination is being carried out to determine if the blaze was started maliciously and what caused it.
The zoo's intruder and fire alarms went off in the Mountain Tea Rooms, according to spokeswoman Joy Bond.
She said: "It is disappointing news for us. It was quite a significant blaze and the cafe is destroyed."
She also praised the fire and rescue services for arriving at the scene so quickly.
As Belfast Zoo was built on the hillsides above north Belfast, the Mountain Tea House was popular for providing views of Belfast Lough and the city.
Ms Bond added that the zoo will open as normal and that the animals were unharmed, but 5% of the animals are situated close to the sealed off area and this will not be open for public viewing.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
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